The Trial of a Time Lord: Part Two

Peri discovers that Ravalox is actually Earth, but The Doctor cannot explain the link. The Doctor is taken down to help the Robot, Drathro.

This is an example of the extreme fluctuation in quality throughout this fourteen part series. After a very strong, visual, unique first episode, this second one is pretty poor in comparison. The visuals are a bit flat, it all looks a bit drab, and lifeless, with the exception of the run down escalator, which looks marvellous.

Joan Sims, I am a huge fan, a comedy great, and a fine actress, it pains me to say it, but she seemed badly miscast here, I'm not buying into the character of Katryca. Glitz and Dibber are great though.

It's decent, just a bit flat, and a bit silly. 6/10

Those jokes are coming thick and fast from the Sixth Doctor. He is going through those Yard jokes fast such as calling the Valeyard, Graveyard. Only 12 more episodes of this type of humour.

The Inquisitor reminds the Valeyard that it is up to her rather then the Valeyard as to the sentencing guidelines. The Doctor notes the Valeyard wants him dead, a rather personal motive.

The Doctor finds that the underground community is controlled by a robot called Drathro. To the inhabitants he is the Immortal one, a god. The Doctor decides he should stick around to help the human inhabitants.

Meanwhile Katryca tells Peri that there are so few females about she could have multiple husbands. She is locked up with space pirates Glitz and Dibber.

The switch to the trial scenes were not as grating as upon my initial viewing. However despite the location shooting this does look cheap in places. The corridor sets are plain and the costumes are pretty bad. The incidental music is ghastly.

Only the interplay between Glitz and Dibber stands out.

Review of The Trial of a Timelord Parts 1 to 4:

This is the beginning of The Trial of a Timelord, an epic 14 part full season story arc. These first 4 episodes are known as the story The Mysterious Planet and are mainly written by the great Robert Holmes. His quality writing, whilst not at all at its peak as he neared the end of his life with very ill health, shines through and lifts this story with a good level of storyline and some very good dialogue and character interactions. The trial element is written by Eric saward, script editor, and it is inserted in linking all segments of the 14 part arc. It involves the Doctor being summoned by the Timelords and put on trial for his interference in other worlds during his travels. This idea sprang from the fact the show itself seemed under trial as BBC bosses were on the brink of cancelling it and had forced a hiatus with a long gap between the previous season and this one. The wish to make the season an overarching story was an effort to bring a positive change but is not entirely a positive thing overall. The story is shown as 'evidence' with us watching it unfold in pieces, interrupted as the 'video is stopped' for debate in the courtroom. The trial scenes disrupt the flow of the story and can at times be irritating. They are far from all bad though as well known actors Lynda Bellingham and Michael Jayston are high quality as The Inquisitor and The Valyard and provide some amusing and interesting exchanges with The Doctor.

The Mysterious Planet story written by Holmes is interesting and thoughtful. The Doctor and Peri arrive on Ravolox but see indications that it is, in fact, a future post apocalyptic Earth. They encounter different groups of humans and a robot that is in charge of the main society. The classic Holmes story feature of a duo of guest characters engaging in banter is here in the form of Glitz and Dibber. They are engaging and enjoyable characters with some smart banter. Veteran comedy actress Joan Sims guest stars as Katryca, the ruler of a group of humans, and she is very good in the role. The dialogue throughout has a level of quality and intelligence above many of the stories of this era.

The most striking and positive aspect of this for me is that Colin Baker's characterisation of the 6th Doctor is VERY changed from the previous season. In Season 22 the 6th Doctor was portrayed as a narcissistic, arrogant egotist who bullied Peri and was happy to engage in casual violence. Totally out of keeping with previous Doctors. Here he thankfully is redeemed as someone worthy of the Doctor as he is shown at last to be caring, likable, warm and funny. Even his pomposity is played for laughs now instead of being an unpleasant irritant. Baker finally makes the Doctor endearing, kind and heroic. I am hugely pleased as a result. Baker acts beautifully and even Peri improves to a decent standard.

Another highlight is the fantastic opening sequence with a superb model shot that is hugely impressive. It really sets the first episode off in a high quality feel. Sadly the sets thereafter are not so great and costumes etc are not brilliant. The robot is good though and there is a nice bit of outdoor filming on occasion providing some atmosphere.

There are some cheesy aspects thanks to the style of the time and this is no classic but this is a decent start to season 23 overall.

My ratings: Episode 1 - 8/10, Episode 2 - 6.5/10, Episodes 3 & 4 - 7/10, Overall - 7.13/10.